I am a 20-year-old who wants go to bed by 10pm and wake up by 7am to go to the farmer’s market, would rather take ginger shots over tequila shots, and enjoys reading books about self improvement and spirituality. In my age group, I am a minority in terms of the way I live my life. But just because a lot of my friends don’t prioritize the same things as me, doesn’t mean I’m going to give up living life how I want to live it.
The wellness world isn’t huge, but it is growing. If you’re not in a big city like LA or New York, it can feel a little isolating–I currently live in Baltimore, MD but grew up in Louisville, KY so I get it. Scrolling through Instagram, seeing all of these blogger best friends going to Soul Cycle and drinking green juices when you’re getting ready to sage your house…all alone, before your friends come over (they’ll call you “crazy” if they saw you sage the house.) It’s not fun feeling trapped in your own life and it’s definitely not easy taking the steps toward living more authentically when you are doing it alone.
Because my priorities have always been a bit mature for my age, I feel like I have navigated a lot of these things alone. I started going to yoga classes alone, farmer’s markets alone, I’d eat my own healthy dinner alone before a party. I am pretty independent, and I am all for doing things alone, but I’ve learned that life is a lot more meaningful when you get to share your passions with others.
Here are a few things that I have done to make this whole wellness journey a little less lonely:
Find your local tribe
I’m not saying to completely ditch the friends you have right now, but there’s always room to make new friends! Think about all of the things you love to do. Do you love yoga? Join a yoga studio. Hangout at a local juice bar! Strike up conversation with someone who’s also on a solo date at your favorite healthy restaurant. A lot of times, people are more friendly than you’d expect–you just have to make the first move.
Reach out
Do a quick Instagram search of people who live near you who seem to be into the same types of things…message them. Ask to get coffee of lunch. It’s nerve-racking and seems a bit strange, but I have met some of my best friends through sliding through their DMs and asking to hangout. Are you ever going to say no to the possibility of a new friend? I don’t think so.
Join a FB group
Ah, I have fallen in love with Facebook groups. There are groups for everything under the sun. Whether it be blogging, holistic living, travel, or maybe you have a passion for crocheting. Joining a FB group (or tribe, as some call it!) is one of the best ways to directly connect to like minded people. You can post about yourself and possibly even find more like-minded people in your area. Two of my favorite groups are The Balanced Blonde’s Soul of Fire Podcast Tribe and Almost 30’s Secret Facebook Group.
Get comfortable being with yourself
Yes, having solid friends who care about the same things as you is really important and will drastically improve your life, but the relationship you have with yourself will always be most important. If you feel strong, confident, and comfortable with yourself and how you want to live your life then even if your friends don’t understand, you’re going to feel a hell of a lot better about yourself.
The reason why I feel ok with spending so much time alone, going to workout classes, farmer’s market, wellness events is because I know that it’s what I love and no one can take that from me. When you start living authentically, the people who are supposed to be in your life will gravitate towards you. What you put out into the world, will always come back in. It’s science, people!
Share your passions
Talk about the things you love with the people who “don’t get it.” They may never understand past life regressions or reiki but maybe they really fall in love with sweating during a hot yoga class.
When I go back home to Kentucky, I try and schedule all of my friend dates doing things that I enjoy and think they might enjoy! Whether that be rock climbing, hot yoga or just going to a restaurant that I know has options for me to eat. I’ve learned sometimes it’s ok to be selfish (as long as it doesn’t harm the other person) and a lot of times, you’ll end up expanding their world view too!
Living this whole wellness lifestyle can seem daunting when you’re not in places like LA or NYC and none of your friends seem to care about the same things as you, but it’s not impossible. With a little bit of stepping out of your comfort zone, you will be well on your way to living authentically with people who just “get” it. And if you’re just looking for another friend, or a person to talk to, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!
